The World at a Crossroads; Searching for a Concrete Solution, was the theme of the 10th Asian Leadership Conference (ALC), held on 14-15 May, 2019 at The Shilla, Seoul. Agri-Tech East director Dr Belinda Clarke was invited to present developments in Smart Farming.
Belinda said: “I was invited by Prof Kyeong-Hwan Lee, Director of the Agricultural Robotics and Automation Research Centre at Chonnam National University, and we had an excellent meeting about future collaborations as they further develop the agri-tech focussed innovation ecosystem around the University and build on the cluster of relevant companies already co-located with the University.
Belinda’s session was ‘Smart Farming 4.0’, with the aim of showcasing the best of future potential technologies to enable global agriculture to reach its full potential, as sustainably as possible. Talks ranged from vertical farming, to the latest innovations in farm machinery, to robotics and automation.
Belinda featured some of Agri-Tech East’s scores of members, including the University of Essex robotics strawberry harvester, the University of Lincoln’s computer vision work to identify mature broccoli heads ready for harvest, the Hands-Free Hectare developed by Harper Adams University and Precision Decisions, and the Potato Yield Model developed by NIAB CUF and Agrimetrics.
The ALC, hosted by The Chosunilbo, is the country’s premier international conference where global leaders come together to discuss and provide possible solutions for the pressing issues that Asia is facing today. World-renowned political leaders, global corporate CEOs, and academic leaders have participated in the conference since it was first held in 2005. Participants at the conference include C&D-level and senior executives of Korea’s biggest-listed companies, senior government leaders and officials, professors and researchers.
Since its very first conference, the ALC has presented unique themes that address the status of society, and provides a great opportunity to seek ways to bring peace and prosperity to the world.
Belinda continues: “We were honoured to have in the audience Yoon Dong-Jin, the Director General of the Agri-Bioindustry Policy Bureau.
“It was a real privilege to be part of the Asian Leadership Conference and showcase some of the best of UK agri-tech developed by our members via this prestigious global platform. I am excited about developing our links with colleagues at the Universities, supported by the British Embassy in South Korea, for this important market through which our members can springboard further into South East Asia.
The Duke of York also spoke at the conference and hosted a Pitch@Palace event.
